Throngs of Secret Service agents are always on watch for suspicious packages near the White House gates, and anyone who might be looking to infiltrate the grounds. But on Thursday night, they had a slightly smaller-scale security breach to contend with: a toddler who squeezed through the fence in the front of the residence.

The brief kerfuffle as agents scrambled to intercept the pint-sized intruder confirms what most people know: toddlers are sneaky, and fast. This one was promptly returned to his parents.

The little guy didn't get in any trouble - at least, not with the feds.

And he was unavailable for comment - to anyone - for at least a few more months.

"We were going to wait until he learned to talk to question him," Secret Service Agent Edwin Donovan said in a statement, "but in lieu of that he got a timeout and was sent on way with parents".

It turns out that babies - and their stuff - are becoming a security issue in Washington.

The visitor's centre of the US Capitol was closed briefly oon Friday morning after authorities found an unattended stroller outside. A US Capitol Police spokesman said the stroller was "deemed non-hazardous".